Last year I met many new family members, one of which was my future-husband’s cousin Eli. We only met twice. The first time was during a a visit with other family in the midwest where Eli, known as Nitai Das in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, brought us a gorgeous, vegetarian meal of Indian food from a chef-friend in the area. The second time was in Denver, two days after I was attacked last autumn. My parents were in town, and they met him too and shared stories about other family members involved in the Hare Krishna movement.

That was the last time I saw Eli, before he passed away this past January.

We visited Govinda’s, a vegetarian restaurant at Denver’s Krishna temple, this past weekend. We came to support a great local business, but mostly to remember and honor Nitai Das. I feel blessed to have known him, and to be part of his loving family.